Baltimore County wants to crack down on nuisance violations at businesses - WBAL TV Baltimore
TOWSON, Md. —
Baltimore County is looking to clamp down on nuisance violations. County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced Tuesday plans to amend and update the longstanding 'padlock law.'
It would authorize the chief of police to take action against properties, with repeated public nuisance violations.
Olszewski's office said this is about giving police a stronger tool to prevent businesses to be havens for illegal activity.
Olszewski has introduced a bill he said will resolve public nuisances and enhance public safety. The enhanced 'padlock law' is supposed to provide greater ability to address places where repeated violations of the law occur.
People who live in Baltimore County are all for safer streets.
"Let people have fun, we're all young, we're all trying to have a good time, but we got to make sure we're still keeping our streets clean. We don't want bad things in this neighborhood," Baltimore County resident Kevin Vieira said.
Baltimore County resident Evin Boykin agrees.
"Those are all problems that are connected to material conditions, drug issues, fights -- the businesses wouldn't have patrons and people to come there if it wasn't for the things people want to do," Boykin said.
Baltimore County Police spokeswoman Joy Stewart explains what the legislation would mean for the department.
"It's going to give us another tool to basically address locations in the county that there have been a series of problems. It's going to allow us to get those locations to come into compliance in a voluntary manner," Stewart said.
Under the proposed legislation, the chief of police can take action if two public nuisance violations have occurred on a premises with a two-year period. The bill authorizes the chief to order immediate closure, subject to a hearing before the county administrative officer.
It's a public nuisance where if the premises was used for prostitution, adult entertainment that violates county code, licensing, or zoning requirements or for illegal gambling to name a few.
"You also have a process in which the establishment or operator can voluntarily come into compliance and even after that, there's an appeal process all of that is contained in the bill so there are checks and balances," Stewart said.
People who have concerns about the bill will get to have their say during a public hearing on March 29.
Baltimore City enacted a similar 'padlock law' in recent years.
source: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-county-to-crack-down-on-nuisance-violations-at-businesses/39372313
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